─── ・ 。゚☆: .☽ . :☆。゚. ───
Pairing: James potter x reader
Warnings: old time cursing
Word count: couldn't really count it because of the news paper and letter but around 1k
Disclaimer 1: Everything on this Blog is fiction!!!
Disclaimer 2: There is important information inside of lady whistledowns paper and the letter, read it carefully
Sypnosis: Lord Potter is back from the country just in time for your introduction to the ton. What will happen when the two meet on the dance floor?
"New Beginnings". :☆。゚. ────
The soft rustle of sheet music being turned, followed by a gentle hum from Francesca's lips, draws your attention as you seek a reprieve from the overwhelming nerves coursing through you. Your entire being tingles, and you find yourself unable to cease the restless bouncing of your leg.
"The worst part is over," Francesca murmurs, prompting you to glance up at her. Thank heavens, for the silence had grown unbearably oppressive. You arch an eyebrow in inquiry, knowing well that she is not one for excessive speech. Ordinarily, you would accept her sparse words and form your own interpretations of their meaning, but the prospect of enduring another hour in silence threatens to drive you to madness. Your gown rests comfortably beneath your bust, and even the small, crown-like headpiece, far lighter than the feathered one you donned but two days past, elicits no complaint from you.
"We have presented ourselves to the Queen, which, naturally, entails presenting oneself to the ton," she elucidates. "Indeed," you murmur in agreement. She speaks truly, yet the daunting prospect looms: the coming year shall be filled with two balls or outings per week, coupled with promenading with potential suitors (should any materialize), leaving scant time for oneself. At the very least, Francesca's adept playing of the pianoforte captivates callers, ensuring her swift marriage. Alas, most men hold little fondness for well-read women, particularly those who engage in little else.
You have endeavored to embrace various pursuits, and while you do find solace in the creative expression sewing affords, the frustration mounts after but a few minutes of struggle, whereas books provide a true escape. You have long harbored a desire to engage in the gardening your father so cherished, yet the mere thought of touching dirt would likely bring untold shame upon your family, especially as an unmarried woman.
"I am simply fearful of..." You cannot bring yourself to complete the sentence and give voice to the dread of becoming a spinster, but judging by your sister’s expression, there is no need. She understands. You smile.
James steps into his residence, now bustling with servants arranging his belongings. He feels a chill, uncertain if it emanates from the brisk London air or from the house itself, which ceased to be a home long ago. Attempting to count the servants proves futile, their swift movements blurring into a cold shiver that travels up his spine. In the country, he had precisely two servants, Archie and Edith.
Archie, though sparing with words and often reminding James too much of someone he could not converse with (you, although he does not like to think anything makes him think of you.), did surprisingly, drew laughter from him on more than one occasion. Edith, on the other hand, was a ceaseless chatterbox, her conversations spanning birds, flowers, the sky, and the future. Over the years, he had the company of approximately three Misses, all amiable ladies, but between caring for his ailing mother and drafting letters to you that he never found the courage to send, his time was scarcely his own.
A maid approaches, presenting him with a letter. He skims it, feeling the contrast of the soft paper against his rough fingertips, and nods. A ball is to be hosted by some lady, showcasing the new debutantes as the ton engages in its usual gossip. He finds no need to attend.
He hands back the letter, but the maid hesitates to leave, nervously wringing the fabric of her dress. “Is there something else, Miss…?”
“Miss Schultz, Your Grace. No, I merely thought you might wish to know that Miss Bridgerton will be attending.”
James' heart skips a beat, and he must quell a surge of rage, replacing it with a veneer of calm to avoid snapping at Miss Schultz. “Francesca? How delightful. I shall send the Bridgertons my congratulations on her debut.” Noticing Miss Schultz's internal debate on whether to correct him, he decides to preempt her. He’s aware of your age and you mentioned your upcoming debut in the last rage-filled letter he received. He burned that letter. “I will retire to my study now. Thank you for informing me, Miss Schultz.”
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Since the algorithm on my various socials thinks I actually want to see a ton of people simping over Rhys and ACOTAR, let’s get down to the bones of why that algorithm is fucked beyond all comprehension, shall we?
I’ve never hidden the fact that I’m pro-Tamlin, not in the sense that I approve of what he did, but from the place that I believe he’s worthy of forgiveness in the same way any of the men that SJM otherwise glorifies in her work is worthy of it for any of their transgressions.
I shouldn’t have to do a paint by numbers thing here to make this obvious, but based on the actual text written by SJM in her own words, Tamlin has objectively done nothing better or worse than Rhysand has.
The big complaint is his temper, of course, and pro-Rhysies love to bullshit about how the red flags were all over book 1 and SJM is such a master at foreshadowing.
He locked Feyre in a house against her will to protect her, when she clearly didn’t want to be caged. How is that any worse than Rhysand…drugging her and making her give him lap dances, in order to protect her, when she clearly didn’t want to be dancing naked in front of strangers?
Go on. I’ll wait for your rationalization.
Rhysand’s whole shtick was that he’s only playing the villain to keep Velaris (and only Velaris) safe…those fucks in the Hewn City can eat a bag of dicks, right? But tell me again how Tamlin is the really bad one for enforcing a tithe because it’s unfair to those who can’t afford it (fair point). But Rhysand chooses to save the one city in his court that has zero problems. Let’s let those that might already be suffering from poverty get kidnapped and tortured by a psychopath. That’s probably better than a tithe, right?
And let’s not forget how Tamlin mocked Feyre and Rhys at the High Lords meeting. While funny, it was in poor taste. At least Rhysand didn’t publicly mock Tamlin. He had the decency to do it privately when he went out of his way to go to a deeply troubled man’s house and, in the midst of an obvious mental health crisis, not only had the gall to ask for resources from a man that has no resources because his own wife fucking destroyed them out of spite, but proceeds to rub in his triumph over a man that has nothing left. Nothing to see there, right?
Even if you could ignore all of that (and you’d have to be willfully fucking thick to do so, which a lot of these people are), I shall leave you with Tamlin’s role as a spy for Hybern. That’s obviously supposed to be a real shock because TaMliN BaD at this point, so why would anyone believe him? It’s not like he had a really good explanation like Rhys gave when he murdered literal children and innocents just to ensure Amarantha didn’t know how noble he actually was. Right? RIGHT?! And it’s not like anyone would have a harder time believing someone who had played evil and done actually evil things for the “greater good” (a collectivist dog whistle if there ever was one) for fifty fucking years over the dude that suddenly goes bad after being a progressive and respected high lord for the same period of time? I mean, it’s not like we’re dealing with severe mental anguish and trauma here. That’s crazy talk.
Shadow Daddy does no wrong. Even when he does. Because reasons.
Those idiots on TikTok making stupid videos showing their bf’s being all shocked and I KNEW IT when Tamlin “turns” can chew glass along with all those dipshits selling mugs that say “Tamlin’s Tears” on Etsy right next to merch glorifying a man that literally gaslit his soulmate into believing that forced drunken naked lap dances were actually a good thing, when you think about it.
SJM isn’t a master of foreshadowing. She’s a sloppy writer of moderately entertaining fiction that has a kink for glorifying severely unhealthy behaviors without the benefit of a trigger warning.
Fuck off if you think that’s all okay and think that anyone that says Tamlin isn’t any worse comparatively is the crazy one. Projection is a real disorder. Look it up. Right after you order your 543rd Rhysand candle.
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I can't explain this, but Black women looking young is somehow being added to the convenient excuses to not ship Black women with popular white leading men but ~not in a racist way~
She's strong and independent, she doesn't need him
He's a mess, she can do better
She should be gay! or with minor Black side character!
NEW: She looks so young :(
I'm obviously picking on this particular person but I've seen several people dismiss SydCarmy because "he's a much older, mentor figure! that'd be inappropriate!" And like??? HUUUUH???
Sydney and Carmy are an absolute MAX of 5 years apart in age. And while Ayo looks beautiful, 19 she does not look! Sydney went to culinary school and has worked at several fine dining establishments before launching her own business, common sense says she's at least in her late 20s. And while Carmy has more restaurant experience, he was a literal prodigy who started young.
ALSO, this is kind of an aside but where the fuck is Carmy mentoring Sydney in any real capacity?
S1 - she gets hired, 2 days later she was like "hey I redid your entire business plan because your shit is fucked, a day later he asked her to lead the brigade and then ditched her. He went to cater Cicero's party with Richie and once again Sydney was in charge DURING A POWER OUTAGE. She quit mid-service, comes back, and he's like want to start a restaurant with me?? Not as a fucking mentee, as a partner
S2 - Sydney is making the construction timeline decisions and present and participating in financial/loan conversations with the literal owners of the Beef/Bear. Sydney is part of designing the menu. Sydney is hiring. The only mentor-mentee relationship she's in is with TINA!
Does Sydney look up to Carmy because he's in many ways accomplished her culinary dreams? Absolutely. But people acting like she's some bright eyed student he's teaching to dice onions is fucking crazy.
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